Decoding an Ancient Therapy

It turns out even my 85 year-old grandmother is proud of the work I do. Last month, along with clipped coupons she send me this article from The Wall Street Journal.

High-Tech Tools Show How Acupuncture Works in Treating Arthritis, Back Pain, Other Ills

This spring the Wall Street Journal ran an excellent article headlining their Health & Wellness section. The articles author, Melinda Beck, reviews the medical science behind acupuncture therapy. For example, as is demonstrated in the image to the left: "A specialized MRI scan shows the effects of acupuncture. The top two images show the brain of a healthy subject. In the middle two images, a patient with carpal tunnel syndrome registers pain (indicated by red and yellow). The bottom images show the calming effect (indicated by blue) in the brain after acupuncture."

Does It Work? While scientists say further research is essential, some studies have provided evidence of acupuncture's effects.

• Arthritis of the Knee: Acupuncture significantly reduced pain and restored function, according to a 2004 government study.
• Headaches: Two 2009 reviews found that acupuncture cut both tension and migraine headaches.
• Lower Back Pain: Acupuncture eased it in a big study last year, but so did a sham treatment where needles didn't penetrate the skin.
• Cancer: Has proven effective in reducing nausea and fatigue caused by chemotherapy.
• Infertility: Improves the odds of pregnancy for women undergoing in-vitro fertilization, according to a 2008 review of seven clinical trials.
• Addiction: Often used to help quit smoking, drinking, drug use and overeating, but there is no conclusive evidence that it works.

Not only does the article discuss common physical ailments, but the more allusive as well. A wonderful interactive tool reveals the common points on the ear that correspond to body conditions. If you'd like to use it, try it out here.

You may download the full text article from our resources page here.